Had a good haircut here last week, this place is more about style than fashion, its a good chilled…read morevibe and not too expensive. I'd recommend it and have been back twice, they were very flexible fitting me in on a busy Saturday when I was going for an interview. My wife like my haircut - she said I looked cool, like a cross between Blake Fielder-Civil and a moor hen. The staff are really friendly GO! Next time I go I am going to ask them to give me a price to open on a Sunday and help me shave a donkey on a number 1, so I can try and make some money renting the donkey out for Hare Krishna picnics during the summer.

Well, it was only a matter of time before I would begin the healing process. After all, one's…read morehairdresser disappearing from this plane of existence shouldn't mean my barnet will go forever untouched, no. And as you may be aware from my former Mufti review, I badgered a friend of mine into visiting them. I booked myself an appointment for Saturday with very high expectations, and they were met gallantly. Mufti is cool, there's no denying it. It's in the Northern Quarter for starters, it's run by guys, the music is unbelievably mellow and lovely and it's simple, clean and relaxing. They had me at the film magazines by the sofa. You might not be able to pick a hairdo from them but you can read through which films should have been TV shows. Agreed, journalists! Empire Records should SO have been a series, as should Watchmen. Ahem, where was I. Not that I'm leaving Salvation (http://www.yelp.co.uk/biz/salvation-hair-ltd-salford#hrid:iRY12h4CSS4gugZ1e-S2Pg), it just feels a little weird to walk in there without Alex, but I was more than intrigued to see what Mufti could do with my stupid hair type. Over the years I've tried and failed to make it more manageable, the only thing that really worked for me was a pixie cut. Now I've ill-advisedly grown it long again and its natural wave and supposed 'thinness but lots of it' have got the better of me. Hair, meet Karl, a genius, a lovely guy who washed my hair himself without getting some floor sweeper to do it and asked me questions about my hair routine throughout. I think he could tell from the clobber that I'm something of a vintage junkie, and my resulting style reflected that. A snip, a tweak, some conversations about Alex (he knew him very vaguely), advice on hair products and a confirmation that my hair is indeed thick (take THAT, Headmasters) and that short layers are fooling me into thinking my hair's manageable later, I looked in the mirror and was greeted with a silky head of waves worthy of a 40s movie star. I'm a convert.

Great place . I was visiting Manchester for my birthday and noticed the aesthetic of the shop day…read moreone and got a haircut before I came back home . Best haircut I've had in a while ! Cheap too . All the guys seemed chill and the music was perfect between hip hop and rock

The staff were chatty and bright. The guy who did my hair took his time with every detail of my…read morehair. Even though it was only a re-cut of my old hair, it still ended up costing almost 25 quid, which is pretty high. The end result was good, so I'm very happy with it, but I think it's slightly on the expensive side. I'd probably go again.

You know how travel agents are always talking about 'best kept secrets' when advertising holidays…read moreto places we might not have considered? Well...this hair academy is definitely one of Manchester's best kept secrets. A friend recommended it to me in autumn, and I'm not looking back, no sir. I had previously come to accept that I was too poor to afford haircuts whilst in Manchester, resigning to a bi-annual chop when I went home and earned some modest pennies. However, a wash, cut and blow dry here will set you back a mere £6 which is flabbergasting but fabulous. Good bye split ends...hello chic and shiny! What is the catch? - I hear you ask. Well, patience is a prerequisite. The aforementioned wash, cut and blow dry took no less than three hours. That said, my hair is particularly thick, unruly and rather chaotic. The lucky owners of 'normal' hair might only have to sit for two hours or so. This is because it is an academy, so the hairdressers are still learning. Whilst this does not necessarily compromise the quality of cut, it does mean it takes them longer to do what a qualified hairdresser could probably do in half the time. I'm sincere when I say the quality isn't reduced. It might have taken three hours, but it was the best cut I've ever had. Because they're still learning...they don't do anything without approval from their instructor who hovers over their shoulder, watching their every move to make sure they get it right. I kind of felt sorry for my stylist actually - it must be horrible to have someone breathing down your neck like that! But I guess that's how we learn, eh? The stylist herself was lovely. Very friendly, and listened to everything I said, and giving it appropriate consideration. She was very keen to make sure she was giving me exactly what I wanted, other than some qualified hairdressers who just get a rough idea of what you want and then do what they're used to doing. However I wish I could say the same of the people in charge. There were two instructors, and one of them, Nicky Oliver himself actually, was lovely actually, very friendly and helpful. Yet, the woman, well suffice to say that the term 'ice queen' could have been invented specifically for her. She doesn't treat the clients like customers, more like lab rats, talking over our heads as though we aren't there, and some of the things she said about me to my stylist were actually very rude, so much so that I felt I had to speak up and explain that even though it was an academy, I was still a paying client and I did not deserve to be treated thus - and this is coming from a girl who hates confrontation! Another thing: the location is perfect. Smack in the middle of my beloved Oldham Street in the Northern Quarter - ideal for a pre- or post-shopping trip. If you love treating yourself and having the whole salon experience, this isn't for you. But if you just want the job done, this is excellent value for money. Just make sure you have a thick skin.

Avoid. 1st time at…read moreNicky Oliver and the LAST! How on earth has this place got 4 stars? Worst mistake I've made when getting my hair cut is by going to Nicky Oliver. From the moment I walked in I had a bad feeling the way my coat was slung on a hanger with no care, I should of cancelled there and then. The so called "experienced stylist" I was told on the phone who was cutting my hair has butchered my hair with thinning scissors. Every place I've been to in the past, the professional stylist would use skill with scissors not cut and butcher with thinning scissors, my hairs now weak, frizzy, the ends are utter mess and it feels spiky and uneven when I put my hands through it and its standing up all over the place, god knows how long it will take to fix... Its the worst haircut I've ever had as far back as I can remember, I feel literally sick its that bad, I'm absolutely disgusted every time I look at it in the mirror. I have never ever felt the need to write a bad review about anything but by the state of my hair right now I feel I have to. I went there on the back of their online 4 star rating and thought Id be ok going to Nicky Oliver. Big mistake.

I made a last minute appointment, never used this salon before so was a bit apprehensive. I…read morecouldn't have been happier! The staff were great, really friendly and the lady who cut my hair did exactly what I wanted. The price was really reasonable too considering it's central Manchester! Will go back definitely...

Firstly I booked my appointment with a level 3 stylist, I then arrived at the salon to be waiting…read more1hr 15mins for a wash and cut as the man on reception said I cannot be booked in because I booked with the treatwell app and therefore this isn't valid. When I was eventually called to have my hair cut they sent me upstairs to a level one trainee which might I add when she started my hair was down to my bum and is now at shoulder length clearly wasn't trained in cutting hair and is a poorly run salon and training school. No apologies was made no correction was made and the trainer upstairs didn't want to rectify the issue as they was closing I will never and never recommend this place to anyone the staff there are stuck up and rude and ignorant!!

Sited in close proximity to Piccadilly Train Station and Manchester's uber trendy Northern…read moreQuarter, Gayter is a real find! Now, I always thought this salon gained its name from an amphibian affiliation, but I have since been educated by the cute Craig, one of Gayter's three stylists ( he's adorable). The salon's name is a wordplay of its two owners: Gay Anderson and Terry Longden. The latter is none other than Ozzy Osbourne's nephew but it is not his famous connection that attracted me here, he is unquestionably a fabulous hairdresser and a cool guy. Gayter's interior is very New York, New York. Exposed brick and polished wooden floorboards accompany iron pillars. It is very Manhatten urban chic and as I sat on the comfy sofa in the waiting area sipping my coffee, I soaked up the ambience. The salon has been open for three years and has developed a great name for itself. It is what is regarded in the hairdressing world as a colour boutique as it specialises in colouring using the best matrix products. Gayter also does extensions and if I ever decide to tame my curly locks then this salon offers a procedure called "Kerastraight" which straightens hair for a four month period. Prices are mid range for the location: a lady's cut & blow is £36 and between £15 -£25 for a man. Here's a handy tip; if you want to get 20% off all treatments performed by the lovely Craig on a Thursday or a Saturday, just ring them up and quote "Craig Flyer" and your wish is granted. Why I love this place is because it will stay open just for you if you can only make a late appointment. This is more than accommodating and a rarity in today's hairdressing world. I also love this place because there are three flying ducks a la Hilda Ogden on the swirly whirly walls - more than cute!!